Pope Joan (Diane Sawyer looks at FEMALE POPE)

popejoan.com ^ | 1996 [!] | Donna Cross

[theFIRMbss]

"As its title reveals, the novel is based on the life of one of the most fascinating, extraordinary women in Western history--Pope Joan, a controversial figure of historical record who, disguised as a man, rose to rule Christianity in the 9th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter.

Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against the medieval social strictures forbidding women to learn to read and write. When her older brother is killed during a Viking attack, Joan takes up his cloak and identity, goes to the monastery of Fulda, and is initiated into the brotherhood in his place. As Brother John Anglicus, Joan distinguishes herself as a great Christian scholar. Eventually she is drawn to Rome, where she becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web of love, passion, and politics. Triumphing over appalling odds, she finally attains the highest throne in Christendom.

Pope Joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9th century -- the Saracen sack of St. Peter's, the famous fire in the Borgo that destroyed over three-quarters of the Vatican, the Battle of Fontenoy, arguably the bloodiest and most terrible of medieval conflicts. The novel is a fascinating vivid record of what life was really like during the so-called Dark Ages, as masterwork of suspense and passion that has as its center an unforgettable woman, reminiscent of Jean Auel's Ayla, Jane Austen's Emma, and other heroines who struggle against restrictions their souls will not accept."

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Donna to Appear on PrimeTime Live!
(December 2005)

Tune in Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 10PM Eastern to see Diane Sawyer of ABC News interview Donna Woolfolk Cross, author of Pope Joan, about the book, her research and more. Check your local ABC affiliate for more information.

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Movie News! (updated May 2005)

Principal photography for the movie version of Pope Joan is now scheduled to begin in Spring 2006. Casting for the most important roles is now underway.

February 2005

Pope Joan, the movie, has made progress! It is being produced by Constantine Films. Producer: Herman Weigal. Director: Academy Award Winning Volker Schlondorff. Principal photography to begin in 2006

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Pope Joan at Amazon link

[Old Professer]

Monks don't have Fruit of the Looms.

[bigsigh]

Is that why they referred to it as a novel?

[SoftballMominVA]

Not enough money out there for me to lift a Papal skirt and look for doo-dads. Let the Mexicans do it!!

[Dumb_Ox]

My alma mater's rare books library has a very old German book circulating this legend. As I recall, the story arose when some Germans and the papacy were fighting over something or other a few centuries before the Reformation, but a few centuries after the alleged popess.

[Bohemund]

Is that why they referred to it as a novel?

Yes, a novel that purports to be "based on the life of one of the most fascinating, extraordinary women in Western history--Pope Joan, a controversial figure of historical record."

[ozzymandus]

Papal Pecker Checker?

[bigsigh]

As soon as I see novel based upon facts I break out into hives. I guess we need these books every now and then so we can inform the general public.

The problem with this subject is that the ancient and medival church is not exactly an honest, reliable source.

[peyton randolph]

She's a man, baby. - Austin Powers

[steve-b]

Another explanation I recall is that some of the Popes of the era were figureheads, tugged hither and yon by mothers and sisters with more forceful personalities. The "Pope Joan" legend may be a distortion or satire of those times.

[theFIRMbss]

>The problem with this subject is that the ancient and medival church is not exactly an honest, reliable source

"The DaVinci Code"
and "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"
have been "accepted"

as reasonable
histories by many folk.
If they accept those . . .

[Bohemund]

As soon as I see novel based upon facts I break out into hives. I guess we need these books every now and then so we can inform the general public.

I can live with historical novels with fictional characters. I just hate it when the authors lie about history.

The problem with this subject is that the ancient and medival church is not exactly an honest, reliable source.

Who can prove a negative?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. In the absence of positive, contemporary evidence of her existence, I'll consider Pope Joan a hoax.

[bigsigh]

You have to look at the hostory of the church and not just respond to novels. The churh has bben rife with corruption and politics at many times. After the burning of the library at Alexandria, the church became the biggest repository of books in the world. That's a lot of power and history in the hands of sometime corrupt popes and some who would act out of politcial motivation and their perceived need to protect the church from heresy.

[bigsigh]

Not defending Pope Joan. Are you saying the church history has been without sin?

[Bohemund]

Not defending Pope Joan. Are you saying the church history has been without sin?

Huh? What does that have to do with Pope Joan?

[bigsigh]

you and I have a different interpretation of our previous replies.

Best wishes!

[longtermmemmory]

THAT WAS MY THOUGHT!

This is just another BS story to tryin and imply Hitlary is "just another" woman.

Sorry to the Dinosaur Media, Hitlary is unworthy of even dog catcher.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Sawyer should have stuck to waiting tables.

Better off reading fellow freeper Patrick Madrid's book:

Pope Fiction

[HamiltonJay]

That's ok... Newsweek has already declared that "The Davinci Code" is going to be "Next Years Hottest Movie" on their cover no less... amazing.. now the press corp thinks they can predict the future.....

Not to obvious that the same media company that owns Newsweek also is in bed on the movie is it??

What absolute drivel.

[Mr. Lucky]

This is the 21st Century. Truth is what the MSM wants you to believe.

[Hayzo]

Why is it that the ACLU and MSM decide that Christmas and Easter is the best time to try and depress and slander a chosen religion, which is still a protected right in this country, in order to erode people's beliefs and destroy people's hope?

Do they take pleasure in this? I can tell you a few things that I would take pleasure in doing to these groups. But it wouldn't be the christian thing to do.